Advanced Massage Techniques:

Massage Treatment Specialties:

Auto (Car or Motor Vehicle) Accidents: Due to the nature of high impact injuries, it is important to work with someone experienced in this kind of trauma. Ten years ago I had a patient badly injured in a car accident and it inspired me to become more specialized in the field of motor vehicle, bicycle, and pedestrian accidents. In Oregon, massage is fully covered for up to one year with no out of pocket costs to the patient. As a medical/clinical massage therapist I know how to communicate and handle the paperwork associated with insurance companies and physicians so you can concentrate on getting well again.Medical Massage: Medical Massage is a results oriented treatment that is specifically directed to resolve conditions that have been diagnosed or prescribed by a physician. I use a variety of modalities or procedures during the treatment session. Medical massage allows me to work with your Doctor, Physicians Assistant, Nurse Practitioner, Chiropractor, Naturopath, Acupuncturist, or Physical Therapist. A good medical massage therapist is also a good clinical massage therapist who knows how to speak the language of insurance companies, physicians, attorneys etc. If you have been injured in an auto accident, its a great benefit to work with a medical/clinical massage therapist so that you can concentrate on getting better instead of having to deal with all of the paperwork and insurance issues that come with a prescribed course of treatment.Deep Tissue Massage: If you are looking for a truly deep tissue massage in Portland, I can guarantee you have found the right place! One person’s perception of deep is not the same for the next person. Years of experience has helped me to know how to provide a level of pressure that is right for each individual. Deep Tissue Massage uses a series of techniques to penetrate the muscles of the body. The goal is to release chronic muscle pain and tension as well as targeting tendons and connective tissue. While applying deep, steady strokes I always check in verbally to insure the client is always comfortable. Deep Tissue massage is great for breaking up scar tissue and is used in treating soft tissue injuries due to motor vehicle or bike accidents as well as recovering from sports and work injuries. Deep tissue is also excellent for chronic pain, spasms, increasing range of motion, flexibility and improving posture. It is also profoundly relaxing.Pregnancy Massage: Massage prepares your body for delivery by helping increase and balance range of motion in the joints and muscles associated with childbirth. It improves blood flow to the legs which can help to reduce edema (swelling), varicose veins and blood clots. It also helps you prepare your mind for the birth experience. After your delivery, post-natal massage can help your body recover and restore.

I have 16 years of experience in pregnancy massage and have been specifically trained in prenatal techniques. I received a portion of my education from the American Pregnancy Massage Association. I have also taught pregnancy massage classes addressing the very specialized needs of pregnant women. I often work with “high risk” mothers (expecting multiples and women who have had miscarriages etc.) and patients who have spent years trying to conceive. When you come in for a pregnancy massage you can be sure that every effort will be made to take care of the mother and her very precious baby. Our facility has a specialized pregnancy contour massage unit that fits each belly and body. Unlike many spas, you actually receive a therapeutic and relaxing massage for a full 60 or 90 minutes. This is a very personal and important experience and your massage therapist should be chosen carefully.Sports Massage: The focus of sports massage therapy is to work with problem areas that inhibit competition such as strained muscles or excessively tight muscles that can create alignment issues and performance issue. I use a series of active and passive stretch techniques to improve range of motion and decrease muscle spasms. Deep tissue massage is often involved along with trigger point and connective tissue release, to name a few. I have worked with competitive athletes since my first day in practice. Athletes come to me right before and after sporting events so they can continue to perform and do what they love until a late age.

Pre-Sports massage is excellent preparation before a sporting event. The jostling of muscle tissue is intended to invigorate the athlete before competition and to warm the tissue as a means to avoid injury. Combined with other techniques,

Post-Sports Massage is the vigorous therapeutic milking of muscle tissue after competition, in order to flush the body of built up lactic acid. I often use Ashiatsu to give you twice the benefits in half the time.Swedish & Relaxation Massage: There is an art to delivering the perfect Swedish massage. My approach is to increases circulation, reduces swelling and flush out toxins from the body by using long, smooth, relatively superficial strokes that move blood and lymph towards the heart. This gentle massage is very relaxing and is good for relieving general muscle tension and stress. Swedish massage is also great for balancing your immune system.Integrative/Therapeutic Massage: There are many massage styles and techniques to draw from, and I have completed thousands of hours of continuing education to learn the most effective therapies. I strive to be intuitive in the blending of these modalities.

Advanced Massage Techniques

Ashiatsu Oriental Bar Therapy: This is for true deep tissue enthusiasts. An ancient form of massage that was practiced mainly in Asia. Brought to the west in 1995 by Massage Therapist, Ruthie Hardee. The specific stokes create a deep structural change in chronic soft tissue problems as well as induce a profoundly deep from of relaxation. I use wooden bars mounted overhead for support and balance while using my feet.The continuous deep pressure that you are able to receive from this type of massage covers much larger areas at once than a therapist could ever cover with their hands. The foot is broad and makes the compression smooth and full, not bony or prodding like more common styles of deep tissue using just the elbow, thumbs or a massage tool. The consistent pressure is maintained hour after hour. This isn’t like any massage you have ever received! Many of my clients/patients feel like they received the equivalent of a two hour massage in one hour. Results from treatment of those suffering from chronic back, neck, leg and shoulder pain have been amazing. My clients show dramatic improvement in postural alignment and over all well-being. One of the most therapeutic styles of massage that you will receive in Portland, Oregon.Myofascial Release and Trigger Point Therapy: Fascia is connective tissue that surrounds every muscle, bone, and internal organ in the body. This technique’s aim is to restore mobility in the body’s fascia and soften connective tissue that has become rigid. I recommend this treatment for chronic pain and for areas where you may have had an older injury. Myofascial massage combined with trigger point therapy helps to break down scar tissue by using compression and slow, deep pressure in the direction of the fascial planes.

Trigger point therapy tracks referred pain patterns, identifying root tension points and relieving them with compression. When adhesion’s exist in the fascia they will often pull muscles into a state of contraction, rigidity and pain. In 1997 I completed my focused training based on John Barnes technique of myofacial release. It has been one of the most useful techniques I have ever utilized.Muscle Testing/Kinesiology: Using a technique called Touch For Health, I combine sports muscle kinesiology with Chinese Five Elements acupressure to bring the body into balance. if you were to come in with muscular pain I can quickly assess exactly what muscles are involved and treat them right away. For example, muscles that you feel pain in are often weak. With an isolated muscle test I can show you exactly how weak. Then I apply massage to an neuromuscular point on your body that is often far from the exact site of pain. This neuromuscualr point activates the muscle like a circuit breaker to switch the muscle into normal action in order to heal. Then the muscles are retested immediately and you can see and feel the results for yourself. My clients/patients are often awe of the quick response that their body has. Not only do you get to feel the change but see it as well.Repetitive Use Injury Therapy: This is a unique technique that combines massaging the muscles while stretching and moving them to break up scar tissue, lengthen the muscle and provide relief from pain. Many people experience pain from overuse of particular muscle groups used on a daily basis due to our highly specialized jobs and specific sporting events.Acupressure: It has been used for thousands of years in China and it applies some of the same principles as acupuncture but without the needles. It can be used for overall balance, to reduce stress, eliminate pain and fatigue, Acupoints lie along meridians or channels in your body which relate to specific organs. These are the same meridians and acupoints as those used in acupuncture. Using massage with pressure on specific points along these meridians opens up blockages in each specific pathway. My earliest training in massage was inspired by acupressure while I was living in England,Cupping: The therapeutic use of cupping has been well documented for several thousand years. It is most often used by Acupuncturists but has now become part of the scope of practice for well trained massage therapists. The suction releases and lifts the tissuein a completely different direction than is typically used to treat pain and restriction. This is called “negative pressure”. Cupping increases blood flow to an area often more than what you would normally be able to create in a trigger point or deep release technique. It also has proven to release toxins and deep connective tissue adhesion’s. The combination of massage and cupping can be a very effective treatment.

I received my extensive training from a master in the field of cupping and Acupuncture, Suzanne Johnson.

Classes:

*See the list of therapies/treatments above to request an area of focused education.

I teach private and group massage classes to licensed massage therapists and layman.

I also teach couples, friends and family massage classes. I welcome people to watch me work on their partners, friends or family. if you would like to learn how to help the people in your life feel better, simply contact me for more information.

By request: up to 2 students per class: Auto insurance billing for massage therapists.